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A potential alternative to "app installs" (lemdro.id)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

17 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Many of us have numerous apps installed on our smartphones, and a significant portion of them go unused.

For me, the reason behind this accumulation of apps is that whenever I come across an interesting one on platforms like Reddit or YouTube, I tend to install it immediately, holding onto the hope that I may use it in the future. The consequence of this habit is that my phone becomes cluttered with a graveyard of forgotten apps, occupying valuable storage space, consuming bandwidth, and draining battery life.

One potential solution that has crossed my mind is the concept of "app bookmarking" or virtual installations. Play store can add a button for this type of installation. Bookmarked apps would be distinguishable in the app drawer, with their icons present while the app itself is not actually installed. They would remain dormant until needed, at which point they would be automatically downloaded and launched.

Please note that this idea differs from instant apps in its approach. Basically you would only install the icon of the app and place it wherever you want (on home screen, in folders, etc.) but it's not there until you actually decide to open it.

What do you think?

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[–] FutileRecipe 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

occupying valuable storage space

I can't remember last time in the past 5 years, maybe full decade, where I was running low on storage space on a smartphone.

consuming bandwidth, and draining battery life

If they're truly forgotten and this not used, Android places them in hibernation. At a certain point, Android disables then and removes any granted permissions.

their icons present while the app itself is not actually installed. They would remain dormant until needed, at which point they would be automatically downloaded and launched.

This just sounds like a bookmarked PWA website...which I actually always recommend when available. PWA are less intrusive and less permission hungry than the typical app.

[–] LaughingFox 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You're lucky then. I'm at 75% full on internal storage (128g) and 86% full on SD card (64g) on my Motorola phone.

A lot of that is apps, yes but the majority is music and photos.

[–] FutileRecipe 1 points 1 year ago

Maybe I'm not lucky, but you're unlucky (luck, good or bad, implies rare). I just deleted 200 screenshots and regained around 200mb (not gb) of space. I also deleted 20 pictures and got 50mb (again, not gb) of space back. How many pictures do you have to be measured in that many gigs?! And do you really need gigs of pictures that you routinely look through on your phone on order to need keeping them on your phone (and not backed up)?

I routinely/weekly/monthly go through my phone and delete old pictures and screenshots that I don't need or care about. And those I do care about? I usually upload them to ProtonDrive and still delete them from my device, unless I actively need them while mobile.

Music, I usually have a couple of playlists and audiobooks and podcasts to listen while running or traveling with airplane mode. And done with the book or cast, I'll delete it as I rarely listen to it twice. Music can stay. But that's still maybe 20gbs and takes up the most space by a lot. I can also stream stuff with my unlimited data.